We toss around the word so easily — this passion. “You have to find your passion. Follow your passion.” Like everything would be solved if you only did this — as if all joy would be received in your passion. When actually, when you discover, or simply admit, to the things you truly love, that’s when the real work begins.
And I suppose we’d know this, if we looked at the word itself. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐫, 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫. (Far from the mouth’s of today’s influencers using it to describe the latest storage options from IKEA that they are obsessed with and so very passionate about.)  But don’t be afraid, we’ve basically altered the meaning for suffer as well. The word suffer comes from the Greek word pathos, which usually means to experience or undergo. And it’s this pathos or suffering, that refers to an element in an experience, like a work of art for example, that makes us feel compassion.

I mention it only because I have to learn it as well. Daily. I can easily confuse the feelings in my heart for pain. For suffering in its modern definition. But what it really is, is love. And this is meant to be endured. To be felt and passed on. To move from my heart to page, to canvas. To be offered in the most compassionate of ways. 

So yes, I will be, am, passionate! Images surround me — experiences of heart and mind. I sit across from the painting at the breakfast table, excited to do the work of the day — to experience it all. Knowing, if I do, love will endure. Love will ever endure.